Hi,This is my first post on this forum so first a little background to my request for advice.

I have been a tent car camper for over 50 years and like to travel relatively light. I have used the same tent for the last 40 years (!) - a Bukta Falcon Gold tent with extended Gold Flysheet - this combination being the ultimate in weather resistance in the 1960's. I still love this tent but age and bad knees have caught up with me and I must buy a new tent that has at least 1.8M headroom if I am to continue camping.

I camp alone or with one other person, the kids have long since moved on to their own tents. I don't have a requirement for two rooms but I would like an extended front porch area. My searches on the internet have thrown up the Outdoor Connections Escape 4 or Escape 6 and the Diamantina Waratah 4VD or their Escape Mono but I am finding it hard to actually see a real life one (I'm in Melbourne). I know nothing about the relative quality of these tents or the potential alternatives.

My objective is still to travel relatively lightly, have enough head room to stand up, perhaps use a stretcher bed in place of a mat (!) and be highly weatherproof. I normally try to use a tarp to provide a cooking/table/sitting area and only use the tent for sleeping and some storage.

I would appreciate comments on the tents I have mentioned and any suggestions for alternatives that I should consider. Whilst cost is always a consideration it is not particularly important to me - I just want a good tent!

GypsyLady wrote:Congratulations on the purchase Malcolm. I am sure with practice you will find you can put it up single handed. Each time you'll find a better/easier way to achieve this.

It has been my experience that where there is a WILL there is definitely a WAY.

Thank you for your support. I think I will find a better way.... My difficulty on the trial pitch was just the height which made it difficult to get the enormous (!) flysheet over the ridge in some semblance of correct orientation...

GypsyLady wrote:Think Rosco was referring to a tarp to go OVER your tent Malcolm.

I wondered about that!

I have used a tarp over tents in the past mainly for additional waterproofing but I do find it tedious on relatively short trips to do this. My new tent, Diamantina Duo, has had very favourable reviews for its water and wind proofing so I'm hopeful that it lives up to its claims!

Sorry I am a little late but we have had a camper trailer for over 3 years now and I was not familiar with those tents. We had an Oztrail Odessy before and it was HUGE but a good tent and still gets put up when the kids have friends over for a weekend.

Be interested to see how it goes. Make sure you put up a review and some pics when you have broken it in!!!

Hi Malcolm F......Sounds like your getting yourself set up....Thats great

We started off using a tarp above & under our tent and found that we were better off to use ''Shade Cloth'' under it.....First reason was it kept the underside of the tent cleaner and secondly when it rained the water soakes straight through which meant no puddles forming under the tent. (We actually use it on the sides as well which shelters you from the wind and still gives you privacy that you can see through.

Enjoy your camping

Cheers

Rosco

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